November 1 - 30, 2025: Issue 648

 

Palm Beach Sailing Club's 2025 Beware the Bullets Regatta

Palm Beach Sailing Club's annual 'Beware the Bullets' regatta kicked off on Saturday November 15. Run over two days the name stems from sailing terminology where a 'bullet' is a patch of wind, sometimes fluky, which can create problems for those not aware of them and the places they may occur - such as those that can occur on the Pittwater estuary.  Palm Beach Sailing Club's motto add emphasis to this: ''if you can sail here you can sail anywhere'. 


This year's fleet, slightly reduced to a forecast thunder storm in the afternoon, saw former Olympian John Forbes and daughter Bronte take to the water, with John's dad Bob on the beach when they took off, competitors from Kurnell, Ollie, a 12-year-old skipper, an all-girl crew and Sam Dalton and Emma Webb travel from Mannering Park on Lake Macquarie to have a good run before they represent Australia in the Youth Worlds in early December. 

Bronte, John and Bob Forbes

Ollie and his dad

The 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships (YSWC) in Vilamoura, Portugal run from 12-20 December 2025, and this will be the first time in a few years Australian Sailing has sent in a Nacra15 team.

The YSWC brings together young sailors from across the globe to compete in 11 events across male, female, and mixed categories. The regatta offers sailors valuable exposure to international competition, the chance to develop skills in a high-level environment, and the honour of representing their country on the world stage.

For many, it represents an important stage in their personal and sailing development, helping them build skills, confidence, and resilience in an international environment.  

Selection to the Australian team recognises a sailor’s readiness for this level of experience. While the regatta is a prestigious event, the emphasis remains on learning, growth, and representing Australia with pride. 

Emma Webb, of Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, and Samuel Dalton, Manning Park Amateur Sailing Club, said it was very exciting to be going as part of the Australian tam and they were '100% looking forward to having a go'.

iQFOiL Youth (Women’s Windsurfer)  Amelia Wilson of Bayview Yacht Racing Association/ Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, is also part of the team. 

Emma Webb and Sam Dalton - off to Portugal in a few weeks

That so many choose this regatta each year as a way to hone their skills, test themselves on the Pittwater, and have a great time among one of Pittwater's family-focused friendly clubs is a testament to the members of PBSC - members regularly get out on the water in Hobies, Vipers, Wettas, F18's, Wildcats, Nacra 15s and Nacra 17's, and they're happy to help others get involved in off the beach sailing. 

One of the great other annual events is the Fish and Chip Run to Patonga towards the end of their sailing season - with some members undertaking the sail in fancy dress - so you can really see them coming. This is a great fun club, that loves their sailing, loves the Pittwater environment and works together to make their season one of the best around.

Among their membership is a host of World Champions and Olympians, so they're pretty good as well as pretty good at keeping it real.

Dick Clarke, Commodore of the Palm Beach Sailing Club, timed the start for this year's regatta for the middle of the day when the breeze was expected to pick up a bit and provide the sailors with some speed - which is what these craft are built for.

A few photos from those getting ready to start Saturday morning on Sand Point, Palm Beach, run below. A full report when the final day of racing and all the results are in from Sunday 16 - will run Sunday week, November 23.

the all-girl crew

The crew from Kurnell

sun-smart

the registration crew